Photos: Taiwanese martial arts festival marks Buddha's birthday

Theodore Kaye, Getty Images03.19.2014

Participants in a Songjiang battle troupe perform in Neimen, Kaoshiung, Taiwan. Songjiang Battle Array or Song Jiang Zhen is a folk martial art particular to Taiwan. The martial art dates to the Ming Dynasty and draws inspiration from the Chinese epic novel, 'Outlaws of the Marsh.' A lot of the weapons used in the martial art were originally modifications of agricultural implements and farming tools, as it evolved as a self-defense military tactic for Taiwanese farmers against invaders. Every year, an intercollegiate Songjiang Battle Array competition is held in Neimen, coinciding with the festival marking the birthday of Guanyin Buddha.

Theodore Kaye
/ Getty Images

Participants in a Songjiang battle troupe perform in Neimen, Kaoshiung, Taiwan. Songjiang Battle Array or Song Jiang Zhen is a folk martial art particular to Taiwan. The martial art dates to the Ming Dynasty and draws inspiration from the Chinese epic novel, 'Outlaws of the Marsh.' A lot of the weapons used in the martial art were originally modifications of agricultural implements and farming tools, as it evolved as a self-defense military tactic for Taiwanese farmers against invaders. Every year, an intercollegiate Songjiang Battle Array competition is held in Neimen, coinciding with the festival marking the birthday of Guanyin Buddha.Theodore Kaye
/ Getty Images

Participants in a Songjiang battle troupe perform in Neimen, Kaoshiung, Taiwan. Songjiang Battle Array or Song Jiang Zhen is a folk martial art particular to Taiwan. The martial art dates to the Ming Dynasty and draws inspiration from the Chinese epic novel, 'Outlaws of the Marsh.' A lot of the weapons used in the martial art were originally modifications of agricultural implements and farming tools, as it evolved as a self-defense military tactic for Taiwanese farmers against invaders. Every year, an intercollegiate Songjiang Battle Array competition is held in Neimen, coinciding with the festival marking the birthday of Guanyin Buddha.Theodore Kaye
/ Getty Images

Participants in a Songjiang battle troupe practice moves before a performance in Neimen, Kaoshiung, Taiwan. Songjiang Battle Array or Song Jiang Zhen is a folk martial art particular to Taiwan. The martial art dates to the Ming Dynasty and draws inspiration from the Chinese epic novel, 'Outlaws of the Marsh.' A lot of the weapons used in the martial art were originally modifications of agricultural implements and farming tools, as it evolved as a self-defense military tactic for Taiwanese farmers against invaders. Every year, an intercollegiate Songjiang Battle Array competition is held in Neimen, coinciding with the festival marking the birthday of Guanyin Buddha.Theodore Kaye
/ Getty Images

Participants in a Songjiang battle troupe perform in Neimen, Kaoshiung, Taiwan. Songjiang Battle Array or Song Jiang Zhen is a folk martial art particular to Taiwan. The martial art dates to the Ming Dynasty and draws inspiration from the Chinese epic novel, 'Outlaws of the Marsh.' A lot of the weapons used in the martial art were originally modifications of agricultural implements and farming tools, as it evolved as a self-defense military tactic for Taiwanese farmers against invaders. Every year, an intercollegiate Songjiang Battle Array competition is held in Neimen, coinciding with the festival marking the birthday of Guanyin Buddha.Theodore Kaye
/ Getty Images

Participants in a Songjiang battle troupe prepare body makeup before a performance in Neimen, Kaoshiung, Taiwan. Songjiang Battle Array or Song Jiang Zhen is a folk martial art particular to Taiwan. The martial art dates to the Ming Dynasty and draws inspiration from the Chinese epic novel, 'Outlaws of the Marsh.' A lot of the weapons used in the martial art were originally modifications of agricultural implements and farming tools, as it evolved as a self-defense military tactic for Taiwanese farmers against invaders. Every year, an intercollegiate Songjiang Battle Array competition is held in Neimen, coinciding with the festival marking the birthday of Guanyin Buddha.heodore Kaye
/ Getty Images

Participants in a Songjiang battle troupe perform in Neimen, Kaoshiung, Taiwan. Songjiang Battle Array or Song Jiang Zhen is a folk martial art particular to Taiwan. The martial art dates to the Ming Dynasty and draws inspiration from the Chinese epic novel, 'Outlaws of the Marsh.' A lot of the weapons used in the martial art were originally modifications of agricultural implements and farming tools, as it evolved as a self-defense military tactic for Taiwanese farmers against invaders. Every year, an intercollegiate Songjiang Battle Array competition is held in Neimen, coinciding with the festival marking the birthday of Guanyin Buddha.heodore Kaye
/ Getty Images

Participants in a Songjiang battle troupe perform in Neimen, Kaoshiung, Taiwan. Songjiang Battle Array or Song Jiang Zhen is a folk martial art particular to Taiwan. The martial art dates to the Ming Dynasty and draws inspiration from the Chinese epic novel, 'Outlaws of the Marsh.' A lot of the weapons used in the martial art were originally modifications of agricultural implements and farming tools, as it evolved as a self-defense military tactic for Taiwanese farmers against invaders. Every year, an intercollegiate Songjiang Battle Array competition is held in Neimen, coinciding with the festival marking the birthday of Guanyin Buddha.heodore Kaye
/ Getty Images

Participants in a Songjiang battle troupe perform in Neimen, Kaoshiung, Taiwan. Songjiang Battle Array or Song Jiang Zhen is a folk martial art particular to Taiwan. The martial art dates to the Ming Dynasty and draws inspiration from the Chinese epic novel, 'Outlaws of the Marsh.' A lot of the weapons used in the martial art were originally modifications of agricultural implements and farming tools, as it evolved as a self-defense military tactic for Taiwanese farmers against invaders. Every year, an intercollegiate Songjiang Battle Array competition is held in Neimen, coinciding with the festival marking the birthday of Guanyin Buddha.heodore Kaye
/ Getty Images

Participants in a Songjiang battle troupe perform in Neimen, Kaoshiung, Taiwan. Songjiang Battle Array or Song Jiang Zhen is a folk martial art particular to Taiwan. The martial art dates to the Ming Dynasty and draws inspiration from the Chinese epic novel, 'Outlaws of the Marsh.' A lot of the weapons used in the martial art were originally modifications of agricultural implements and farming tools, as it evolved as a self-defense military tactic for Taiwanese farmers against invaders. Every year, an intercollegiate Songjiang Battle Array competition is held in Neimen, coinciding with the festival marking the birthday of Guanyin Buddha.Theodore Kaye
/ Getty Images

A temple volunteer carries a god figure over an incense urn at the Zizhu temple in Neimen, Kaoshiung, Taiwan. Songjiang Battle Array or Song Jiang Zhen is a folk martial art particular to Taiwan. The martial art dates to the Ming Dynasty and draws inspiration from the Chinese epic novel, 'Outlaws of the Marsh.' A lot of the weapons used in the martial art were originally modifications of agricultural implements and farming tools, as it evolved as a self-defense military tactic for Taiwanese farmers against invaders. Every year, an intercollegiate Songjiang Battle Array competition is held in Neimen, coinciding with the festival marking the birthday of Guanyin Buddha.Theodore Kaye
/ Getty Images

Participants in a Songjiang battle troupe perform in Neimen, Kaoshiung, Taiwan. Songjiang Battle Array or Song Jiang Zhen is a folk martial art particular to Taiwan. The martial art dates to the Ming Dynasty and draws inspiration from the Chinese epic novel, 'Outlaws of the Marsh.' A lot of the weapons used in the martial art were originally modifications of agricultural implements and farming tools, as it evolved as a self-defense military tactic for Taiwanese farmers against invaders. Every year, an intercollegiate Songjiang Battle Array competition is held in Neimen, coinciding with the festival marking the birthday of Guanyin Buddha.Theodore Kaye
/ Getty Images

Participants in a Songjiang battle troupe perform in Neimen, Kaoshiung, Taiwan. Songjiang Battle Array or Song Jiang Zhen is a folk martial art particular to Taiwan. The martial art dates to the Ming Dynasty and draws inspiration from the Chinese epic novel, 'Outlaws of the Marsh.' A lot of the weapons used in the martial art were originally modifications of agricultural implements and farming tools, as it evolved as a self-defense military tactic for Taiwanese farmers against invaders. Every year, an intercollegiate Songjiang Battle Array competition is held in Neimen, coinciding with the festival marking the birthday of Guanyin Buddha.Theodore Kaye
/ Getty Images

Participants in a Songjiang battle troupe perform in Neimen, Kaoshiung, Taiwan. Songjiang Battle Array or Song Jiang Zhen is a folk martial art particular to Taiwan. The martial art dates to the Ming Dynasty and draws inspiration from the Chinese epic novel, 'Outlaws of the Marsh.' A lot of the weapons used in the martial art were originally modifications of agricultural implements and farming tools, as it evolved as a self-defense military tactic for Taiwanese farmers against invaders. Every year, an intercollegiate Songjiang Battle Array competition is held in Neimen, coinciding with the festival marking the birthday of Guanyin Buddha.Theodore Kaye
/ Getty Images

Participants in a Songjiang battle troupe prepare body makeup before a performance in Neimen, Kaoshiung, Taiwan. Songjiang Battle Array or Song Jiang Zhen is a folk martial art particular to Taiwan. The martial art dates to the Ming Dynasty and draws inspiration from the Chinese epic novel, 'Outlaws of the Marsh.' A lot of the weapons used in the martial art were originally modifications of agricultural implements and farming tools, as it evolved as a self-defense military tactic for Taiwanese farmers against invaders. Every year, an intercollegiate Songjiang Battle Array competition is held in Neimen, coinciding with the festival marking the birthday of Guanyin Buddha.Theodore Kaye
/ Getty Images

Participants in a Songjiang battle troupe perform in Neimen, Kaoshiung, Taiwan. Songjiang Battle Array or Song Jiang Zhen is a folk martial art particular to Taiwan. The martial art dates to the Ming Dynasty and draws inspiration from the Chinese epic novel, 'Outlaws of the Marsh.' A lot of the weapons used in the martial art were originally modifications of agricultural implements and farming tools, as it evolved as a self-defense military tactic for Taiwanese farmers against invaders. Every year, an intercollegiate Songjiang Battle Array competition is held in Neimen, coinciding with the festival marking the birthday of Guanyin Buddha.Theodore Kaye
/ Getty Images

Participants in a Songjiang battle troupe perform in Neimen, Kaoshiung, Taiwan. Songjiang Battle Array or Song Jiang Zhen is a folk martial art particular to Taiwan. The martial art dates to the Ming Dynasty and draws inspiration from the Chinese epic novel, 'Outlaws of the Marsh.' A lot of the weapons used in the martial art were originally modifications of agricultural implements and farming tools, as it evolved as a self-defense military tactic for Taiwanese farmers against invaders. Every year, an intercollegiate Songjiang Battle Array competition is held in Neimen, coinciding with the festival marking the birthday of Guanyin Buddha.Theodore Kaye
/ Getty Images